The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Mark 7:5-8, “And the Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, ‘Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?’

6 And He said to them, ‘Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me.

7 ‘But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.”

8 “’Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.’”

Driving home last night, I caught a broadcast from Moody Church in Chicago. Dr. Erwin Lutzer, pastor of Moody Church, told that on the night spiritually lost, young Charles Spurgeon attended a Bible study. The

pastor who was to conduct the study, never arrived, and a layman shared the Word that started young Spurgeon thinking about Christ and his need for him.

I had to wonder how many young men might become another Charles Spurgeon if some pastors were absent more often from their churches. Yes, it’s a cynical thought, but it parallels Jesus’ remarks concerning the scribes and the Pharisees in our verses above.

When I was a child, we had set Bible verses that were to be read every night. Then we checked little boxes within the booklets to show that we had read the verses that were assigned. All of that was excellent! But none of the readings “counted” if they were read after midnight. Why? Why, because midnight started yet another day! How foolish! It was a page out of the Pharisaical Handbook.

Of all the things that needed spiritual consideration, the Pharisees focused in on the disciples’ unwashed hands! Jesus called them hypocrites! In ancient Greek plays, the hero and the villan were often played by the same person. Each character was masked according to his part. Thus, a hypocrite was one who disguised himself with a mask of pretence. And that’s what Jesus meant when He called the Pharisees hypocrites! They pretended to be spiritually minded, but they were not.

Their hearts were far from Him; they neglected the commandments of God, and they taught the precepts of men as if they were the teachings of God –but they were not! We have some “pastors” doing the same today.

They teach a moral-uprightness, but neglect the heart of the Gospel, which leads to eternal salvation.

We need to attend faithfully to the BIBLE that gives the LORD’s own instruction! We need to wash our hands of pastors and churches that teach a feel-good religion because it is not the teaching of Christ! May the LORD, who is always faithful, lead us by His Truth. He is that faithful pastor, who is always present to teach the True Word to his people. Who knows but that he might be teaching another Spurgeon!

Pray for your faithful pastor, just as you pray for us and we for you,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”